News and Events
Desoto County SWAT Sleighs Towards Change This Holiday Season
Building a Tobacco-Free Future, One Event at a Time
December 12, 2025
The DeSoto County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Club kicked off the holiday season with a successful Sleighing Towards Change event on December 4th at the Family Service Center. This festive Grinch-inspired gathering brought together creativity, community spirit, and powerful tobacco-free messaging — all wrapped in holiday cheer.
SWAT members spent the afternoon decorating their “How the Grinch Kicked Tobacco” parade float, creating holiday crafts, playing interactive tobacco-free challenges, and enjoying cocoa, pizza, and music. The event blended fun with purpose — giving youth a chance to learn, lead, and make memories while reinforcing the importance of living tobacco-free.
The excitement then spilled over into their participation in the annual Christmas parade, where SWAT youth proudly showcased their float and spread anti-tobacco messaging throughout the community. Their enthusiasm and commitment were on full display as they engaged parade-goers with positive messages promoting a healthier, tobacco-free DeSoto County.
This festive initiative highlighted the impact of empowered youth working together — proving once again that SWAT is leading the way toward a tobacco-free future, one holiday moment at a time.
If you are interested in joining our SWAT movement, please contact Jen Scharf at jscharf@quitdoc.com
For more information on SWAT, visit swatflorida.com
